Ex-Bexar jailers plead not guilty to drug charges

1of 5Ruben Hernandez, 26, back, leaves the federal courthouse in San Antonio on Thursday, July 26, 2018. He and fellow former Bexar County Detention Center guard Gabriel Robert Ortiz, 29,have been arrested on federal charges for their alleged roles in helping bring drugs into the Bexar County jail.Photo: Billy Calzada, Staff / Staff Photographer

2of 5Ruben Hernandez, 26, leaves the federal courthouse in San Antonio on Thursday, July 26, 2018. He and fellow former Bexar County Detention Center guard Gabriel Robert Ortiz, 29, have been arrested on federal charges for their alleged roles in helping bring drugs into the Bexar County jail.Photo: Billy Calzada, Staff / Staff Photographer

3of 5Ruben Hernandez, 26, leaves the federal courthouse in San Antonio on Thursday, July 26, 2018. He and fellow former Bexar County Detention Center guard Gabriel Robert Ortiz, 29, have been arrested on federal charges for their alleged roles in helping bring drugs into the Bexar County jail.Photo: Billy Calzada, Staff / Staff Photographer

4of 5Gabriel Robert Ortiz, 29, leaves the federal courthouse in San Antonio on Thursday, July 26, 2018. He and fellow former Bexar County Detention Center guard Ruben Hernandez, 26 have been arrested on federal charges for their alleged roles in helping bring drugs into the Bexar County jail.Photo: Billy Calzada, Staff / Staff Photographer

5of 5Gabriel Robert Ortiz, 29, leaves the federal courthouse in San Antonio on Thursday, July 26, 2018. He and fellow former Bexar County Detention Center guard Ruben Hernandez have been arrested on federal charges for their alleged roles in helping bring drugs into the Bexar County jail.Photo: Billy Calzada, Staff / Staff Photographer

Two former Bexar County jailers have pleaded not guilty to federal charges that they were smuggling methamphetamines into the detention center.

Gabriel Robert Ortiz, 29, and Ruben Hernandez, 26, were indicted July 25 by a federal grand jury on charges that include conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Ortiz also is charged with three counts of attempted possession with intent to distribute meth, while Hernandez is separately charged with one count of attempted possession.

The pair’s arraignments were scheduled for today, but their lawyers filed waivers, meaning a not guilty plea is entered and neither has to appear for the hearing.

The smuggling scheme occurred between May 4 and June 22, according to the FBI, federal prosecutors and Sheriff Javier Salazar. Ortiz and Hernandez were fired, and Salazar referred their case to the FBI public corruption squad, officials said at a news conference.

Guillermo has been with the Express-News for 10 years, and has covered federal court and its investigative agencies for most of that time. He has also covered immigration, minority affairs and legal affairs as part of the projects team here and for other print, TV and radio outlets. Guillermo has also worked in Central America, Mexico, New Mexico, Arizona and California and his work has appeared in various publications, including the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, New York Post, Newsday, Denver Post and the Albuquerque Journal.